Gujarat HC acquits former BJP MLA Kanti Amrutya

Ahmedabad, Oct 25 (UNI) The Gujarat High Court today acquitted former expelled BJP MLA Kanti Amrutiya and another person in connection with a 1999 murder of an ex-mayor.

The two-judge bench of Justice A M Kapadia and Justice Harshaben N Devani acquitted Amrutiya on ground of lack of evidence, linking him to the murder.

Thrice MLA from Morbi in Saurashtra, Amrutiya was sentenced to life imprisonment, along with six others, for his involvement in the murder of ex-Morbi mayor and BJP worker Prakash Revashia on September 16, 1999. Following the sentence, Amrutiya was later expelled from the party on August 23, 2004, by the then BJP chief Rajendrasinh Rana, Prakash Revashia, who was also director of a Nagarik Bank in Gondal, was murdered on the bank doorsteps.

The uncle of the deceased Vinubhai Revashia in his complaint, named three persons--Pravin alias Dalo Kori, Ramesh Mohan Kori and Magan Kori for the murder. Police arrested the three and on interrogation, the three named four others, including the notorious history-sheeter Gangaram Tapu Kori. The accused also named BJP MLA Amrutiya and later Amit Gangaram and Bala Bechar Kori, who were then arrested. A chargesheet was filed against all of them.

A Fast-Track court Judge A D Mogal of Gondal in Rajkot district while sentencing Amrutiya and others, acquitted Bala Kori, who was said to have provided shelter to the accused persons after the murder.

Following the Gondal court verdict, MLA Amrutiya and Gangaram Kori appealed against the verdict in the Gujarat High Court.